Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black)

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

Excellent umbrella. I used this umbrella with an 1100ws monolight to make full body portraits. I also used another head ceiling bounced for fill. In the past smaller umbrellas didn't have the coverage I needed. This was even and full. For some subjects I softened it a bit with some diffusion. What was really amazing was that the umbrella was light enough to attach just like a regular sized umbrella. The whole setup was still perfectly stable.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

Great umbrella, but be aware they don't fit elinchrom heads well out of the box.

I have RX series pro heads and use the umbrella with elinchrom's wide reflector. The shaft is 8mm which means you cannot use the normal elichrom hole in the head and instead have to use the accessory mount. For this to work well (and it does), I ended up using a 2x2 wood block with a hole drilled in it and velcro'ed the block to the bottom of the lighthead. This way, the umbrella shaft is supported at 2 points (accessory mount and the rear of the lighthead). Sounds a little screwy, but it was easy and works very well. Also had to drill a hole in the reflector for the umbrella.

This all sounds like a pain, but it was not and it works very well and setup time is as speedy as anything else.

The umbrella is worth it. The thing is unbelievably efficient output-wise and has good construction. I use it, or the shoot-through version of this umbrella, as a fill for shooting large group full-body shots of people at events (space permitting). The thing is way more efficient than the photoflex soft lighter II's.

Works great, no complaints other than the packaging is somewhat misleading in that they make it sound likes it should work on a 7mm light head. Great product!

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

i use this for outdoor locations for full body shots.... i bought the siler and the white ...i use the silver for industrial locations to give a harsher look and the white for softer shadows..... i shoot in outdoor locations and recomond that you buy some sandbags....because this thing is going to pick up and fly...

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

IF YOU HAVE THE ROOM FOR A 7 FT UMBRELLA YOU HAVE TO GET THIS ONE
THE LIGHT IS SOFT AND FLATTERING WORKS BEST WITH 3 FLASHES
ON SMALLER SUBJECTS 1 WILL DO THE JOB I USE A GLASS VASE AND THE
GOT A GREAT SHOT ON THE FIRST EXPOSURE

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

Excellent umbrella for portrait photography giving you a very soft quality of light. I use it with my Quantum Qflash T5d-R in an open bulb configuration. This kit makes it an easy portable kit for portraits.

Highly Recommend.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

If you like the effect of directional window light you have it! Otherwise, the large size umbrella almost totally eliminates shadow behind your object because of it's softness. The 7mm shaft doesn't go into Elinchrome's umbrella holder deep enough to hold it straight because of the weight. I am not complaining though, for that money. The problem can be solved easily. Buy it only if you have high output strobe units.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

The Parabolic umbrella is the best there os and the best there ever will be, at least for right now. It will be very and I mean very difficult for Westcott to out do this one. I bought all three umbrellas as I wanted to be one of very few amateur photographers in my area to have them. Am I showing off, you bet ya, and I also know how to use them. My experience with B&H is by far the best experience I have ever had with any online ordering company. again if you want a professional look and professional shots. Than this 7' footer is for you.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

Puts out good light, using with SB-600. Nice and even. It is heavy, though, and beds the umbrella rod a bit. I'm not too worried about it though. The biggest complaint is that my umbrella sleeve on my tripod won't hold it's weight and it tips towards the floor. The bottom on the umbrella is supported on the ground. I would not take this outside in even the slightest breeze.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

Worked great for full length couple portraits. I used dual Nikon SB-600's to fire into this 7' umbrella. I tried using a plastic umbrella bracket holder at first, umbrella slipped down. Ended up using a metal bracket, which worked fine.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

The tube/rod of the umbrella are slightly weak, it bends under it own wight but other than that its just perfect!

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

After thoroughly testing this out, it's my new favorite modifier. The light that it produces is on par with an Octabank. Solid construction. For the price, you can't NOT own one ... or all three.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

I have used this umbrella to light a band on a recent shoot and absolutely loved the beautiful soft quality of light that it gives. It makes for a great fill as well if you want to light an entire scene/set. Most definitely worth the price!

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

The umbrella is well made, easy to to control. Balanced well.
It gives a nice soft white light rap around effect. It's perfect for portrait lighting for your mature clients. I also found it easy to use for products.
It's a nice light for fill or main.
Make sure you are working in a large space if you get one.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

I just received the 7-Foot Westcott Umbrella, but have not had the opportunity to use it. I actually have an outdoor application for it (to backlite a huge tree at night). I am impressed with how small it folds and I like the carrying case. Seems durable and solid quality (which I expected).

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

I got this large light modifier to help light up larger groups when my speed lights came up a bit short with a 45" umbrella. I was also interested in gaining an understanding in how reflected light can be used to heighten the drama in portraiture. Right out of the box, you get the impact of how large this umbrella is. Fit and finish quite good. It is well constructed and in this price range, a high performer. The umbrella is very large in depth and diameter as you would expect for a parabolic. It certainly seems deep enough to gather and then focus light into a directed 'beam'. The first photos reveal that this large reflective source is much softer than with a 35" umbrella. I paired this with a Bowens Gemini 400ws and got very good results in a very informal comparison. I expect that as I learn to focus it, the results will get better. Any doubts about how efficient a light collector and transmitter this umbrella is were immediately set aside when my daughter showed me a picture of myself holding the umbrella next to me. Her cell phone photo revealed natural window light being perfectly reflected into a 'ball of white light' at my feet! Westcott has done a great job. It comes well packed in a heavy weight cardboard tube and carry case. I look forward to working with this for a long time to come.

Comments about Westcott 7' Parabolic Umbrella (White / Black):

This 'little' accessory is a really useful big-light source. It is extremely packable and feels very durable. However, the focal point of the umbrella is exactly at the end of the center rod and hanging it at that point puts a lot of weight on the swivel (plus it got me pretty worried about how it would hold its own weight). I would NEVER use this thing outside because of this one fact.

As far as indoor use goes though, I love it. It is much more efficient than the huge light banks and when I don't need that rectangular highlight, it allows me to make some really huge, soft light.